GO Transit still on track with expansion plans

The expansions are part of the GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO TRIP), a $1-billion expansion initiative funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments, through the Canada-Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Highlights of the recently announced expansion plans include:

• Construction of a new station in Stouffville, extending the line one stop north. This project is pegged at $6-million and is expected to open next summer. There are 140 parking spaces planned, bus loop, kiss-and-ride passenger drop off area and fully accessible platforms

• A GO parking lot at the Square One shopping mall in Mississauga, to be opened by mid-September.

• GO bus service expansion on the Milton corridor to the University of Guelph. This new service will cost $4 million and construction began in July and both routes have begun service.

• Completion of construction on a midday train storage facility just east of Union Station. The existing Bathurst North Yard allows GO Transit to hold seven trains downtown, just west of Union Station. The new Don Yard allows GO to hold 10 more trains downtown. Holding these additional trains in the downtown area will eliminate 160 kilometres a day or 40,000 km a year of train travel. Storing them near Union Station will also reduce the number of trains that have to be handled on the busier west end tracks.

• Extended rail service at Aldershot Station on GO Transit’s Lakeshore West rail corridor. A third track has been added to the Lakeshore West rail corridor. The overall project is valued at $72 million. Construction of two pedestrian tunnels and new elevators at Aldershot and Burlington stations, widening of Burlington Station’s south platform and extending platforms at Burlington and Aldershot stations to accommodate GO Transit's 12-car trains are also planned.